Millions of dollars of equipment missing from Texas VA locations
Medical equipment, TVs, cellphones, and a John Deere tractor are among the $6.2
million worth of taxpayer-purchased items missing from Department of
Veterans Affairs hospitals and properties across Texas,
documents obtained by KXAN News reveal.
Cincy-area congressman stands by 'moochers'
Rep. Warren Davidson Thursday defended his assertion that “moochers” and “pretenders”
are clogging the Veterans Affairs’ health care system. “Part of the problem is there are
some vets that are moochers and they’re clogging up the system,” Davidson
said Monday at a town hall in West Chester, according to a story in the Journal-News.
“And we do as taxpayers want to make sure the VA filters out these folks that are pretenders.”
Georgia veteran fights to get access to Veterans Choice Program
Charley Kiser, 56, has a scrapbook of stories about the Department of
Veteran Affairs - including his own story. "I haven't seen any improvement and
the Veterans Choice program is such a nightmare it is unbelievable,"
he said. Kiser's frustrations have caused him to
joined the ranks of the Facebook Group "VA is Lying."
Wells Fargo illegally repossessed 413 service members' cars
Wells Fargo will pay $24 million to settle allegations that it mistreated
members of the military -- including illegally repossessing their cars.
Parking Headaches Continue At VA
Federal lawsuits have stalled work on a $20-million parking garage meant to ease
crowded lots at the Dallas VA Medical Center. The nearly finished structure was scheduled
to open earlier this year. The nation’s second largest VA system has struggled with
crowding, with the main campus on Lancaster Road in Dallas looking less like a
hospital some days, and more like a holiday weekend at the airport.
Phoenix VA Gets 7th Boss In 3 YEARS,
And VA Already Knows She’s No Good
To turn around the most troubled Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in the nation,
officials have selected a woman who left her last hospital in disgrace after it ranked
dead-last in patient satisfaction among the agency’s 126 hospitals nationwide.
Rima Ann Nelson has been named the next leader of the Phoenix VA,
The Daily Caller News Foundation has learned.
Best for Vets: Places to Live 2016 — new rankings of 125 cities
For many people, Hawaii and sunny Southern California are dream vacation
destinations. For you, could they be home?
The Process of Adjudication
of Your Claim Is Complex
The More You Know, the Better!
Below are select bits of Title 38
Read Up!
Click the links to learn more
TITLE 38—Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief
CHAPTER I—DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
PART 3—ADJUDICATION
§3.4 Compensation.
(a) Compensation. This term means a monthly payment made by the Department of
Veterans Affairs to a veteran because of service-connected disability, or to a
surviving spouse, child, or parent of a veteran because of the service-connected
death of the veteran occurring before January 1, 1957, or under the circumstances
outlined in paragraph (c)(2) of this section. If the veteran was discharged
or released from service, the discharge or release must
have been under conditions other than dishonorable.
(b) Disability compensation. (1) Basic entitlement for a veteran exists if the veteran
is disabled as the result of a personal injury or disease (including
aggravation of a condition existing prior to service) while in active
service if the injury or the disease was incurred or aggravated in line of duty.
Effective Dates
§3.400 General.
Except as otherwise provided, the effective date of an evaluation and award of pension,
compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation based on an
original claim, a claim reopened after final disallowance, or a claim
for increase will be the date of receipt of the claim or the
date entitlement arose, whichever is the later.
Reductions and Discontinuances
§3.500 General.
The effective date of a rating which results in the reduction or discontinuance of an
award will be in accordance with the facts found except as provided in §3.105.
The effective date of reduction or discontinuance of an award of pension,
compensation, or dependency and indemnity compensation for a payee
or dependent will be the earliest of the dates stated in these paragraphs
unless otherwise provided. Where an award is reduced, the reduced rate
will be effective the day following the date of discontinuance of the greater benefit.
Concurrent Benefits and Elections
§3.700 General.
Not more than one award of pension, compensation, or emergency officers',
regular or reserve retirement pay will be made concurrently to any person
based on his or her own service except as provided in §3.803 relating to naval
pension and §3.750(c) relating to waiver of retirement pay. Not more than
one award of pension, compensation, or dependency and indemnity
compensation may be made concurrently to a dependent
on account of more than one period of service of a veteran.
§3.10 Dependency and indemnity
compensation rate for a surviving spouse.
(a) General determination of rate. When VA grants a surviving spouse
entitlement to DIC, VA will determine the rate of the benefit it will award. The rate
of the benefit will be the total of the basic monthly rate specified in paragraph
(b) or (d) of this section and any applicable increases specified in paragraph
(c) or (e) of this section. (b) Basic monthly rate. Except as provided in
paragraph (d) of this section, the basic monthly rate of DIC
for a surviving spouse will be the amount set forth in 38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1).
§3.103 Procedural due process and appellate rights.
(a) Statement of policy. Every claimant has the right to written notice of the
decision made on his or her claim, the right to a hearing, and the right of representation.
Proceedings before VA are ex parte in nature, and it is the obligation of
VA to assist a claimant in developing the facts pertinent to the claim and
to render a decision which grants every benefit that can be supported
in law while protecting the interests of the Government. The provisions of this
section apply to all claims for benefits and relief, and
decisions thereon, within the purview of this part 3.
§3.303 Principles relating to service connection.
(a) General. Service connection connotes many factors but basically it means that
the facts, shown by evidence, establish that a particular injury or disease resulting
in disability was incurred coincident with service in the Armed Forces, or if
preexisting such service, was aggravated therein. This may be accomplished by
affirmatively showing inception or aggravation during service or through the
application of statutory presumptions. Each disabling condition shown by a
veteran's service records, or for which he seeks a service connection must be
considered on the basis of the places, types and circumstances of his service
as shown by service records, the official history of each organization in which
he served, his medical records and all pertinent medical and lay evidence.
Determinations as to service connection will be based on review of the entire
evidence of record, with due consideration to the policy of the Department
of Veterans Affairs to administer the law under a broad and
liberal interpretation consistent with the facts in each individual case.
Bodies Of Unclaimed Veterans Languish At
Hines VA Hospital, Whistleblower Claims
The bodies of military veterans lay unclaimed for weeks at a time at the Hines
VA Hospital, a whistleblower alleges. Staff from the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs in Washington are in town looking into that complaint.
VA attempts to recoup money paid to veterans in prison
The Department of Veterans Affairs is billing veterans who were incarcerated
at any time since 2008 for benefits they received – but shouldn’t have –
while in prison, a VA official said Tuesday.
Veteran Groups Intervene in Fired Phoenix VA Director Lawsuit
A dozen veteran and military groups have entered the legal fight with former
Department of Veterans Affairs executive Sharon Helman in hopes they
can salvage a law allowing the department to fire top managers more quickly.
VA Hires Another Sex Offender To Care For Vulnerable, Elderly Vets
Veterans entrusting their care to the federal government in Puerto
Rico can count one more felon among their caretakers.
Wells Fargo Troubles Mount With Penalty for Soldiers’ Loans
Wells Fargo & Co., reeling from weeks of pummeling over fraudulent customer accounts,
was sanctioned by the Justice Department over improperly repossessing cars
owned by members of the military.Federal authorities are punishing the
San Francisco-based lender for as many as 413 alleged violations of the
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, according to a statement Thursday from the
Justice Department, which said the bank agreed to pay more than
$4 million to compensate borrowers involved in unlawful
repossessions spread over seven years.
VA offers partial response to Congress,
leaves big questions unanswered
Responding to a subpoena request from Congress, the Department of Veterans
Affairs this week turned over some — but not all — of its investigative
findings into a Colorado hospital that blew its construction budget by more than $1 billion.
Veteran's family frustrated by VA health care system finally get resolution
Sergeant James Mickel, 68, fought in Vietnam. The marine now finds himself mired in
another conflict - this time with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "We're tired of fighting
with them," says Jane Mickel. Mickel says the experience she and her husband
have had with the VA Gainesville hospital has left them in a place of uncertainty.
Where do we send claims,
evidence and such these days???
We don't send our forms and evidence to the regional office any longer.
For those who may not have gotten the memo, we send it all to Janesville, WI.
VAWatchdog encourages readers to follow these simple
rules to ensure that your claim is delivered properly.
1) Use Certified mail only. Don't FedEx it, don't just drop it in the mail.
Certified mail gives you a receipt that will be necessary to prove you
mailed it after VA somehow loses or shreds your papers.
2) Fax it at the same time you mail it. Yes, that's extra effort for you but it
doubles your chances of getting the claim in and having it properly recorded.
3) Have your papers well organized. Be sure your name is on each
document along with any relevant numbers like your SSA or claim file number.
4) Sign any documents that require it. You'd be shocked at how many
vets wait months and years for claims to be adjudicated only to be
denied because they didn't sign on the line.
5) If you're dealing with anything other than a disability claim (debt,
CHAMPVA, education, etc.,) there are other addresses to use.
Mail and fax it all to:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center PO Box 5235
Janesville, WI 53547-5235
Toll Free Fax: 844-822-5246
You don't want to miss what veterans had to
say about their experiences at the VA
Concerned Veterans for America has been traveling across the country hosting town
halls where local veterans can talk openly about their experiences with the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). And the more we’ve listened, the more
we’ve realized: American veterans simply aren’t being heard by DC bureaucrats.
If you’re a veteran or a military family member,
we want you to share your story.
Fill out a Share Your Story form, post on the Concerned Veterans
for America Facebook page, or tweet @ConcernedVets using #MyVAStory.
Dr. Brett Valette provides Military Veterans with psychological
Independent Medical Evaluation, Independent Medical Opinions,
Nexus Letters and Ratings Reviews. For more information visit
www.VeteransPsychEvaluations.com
Forms
VA Form 21-0966 - Intent To File A Claim
VA Form 21-526EZ - File A Claim
Disability Service Connection
Secondary Service Connection-Increased
Disability Compensation-Temporary
Total Disability Rating -
Individual Unemployability -
Compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 -
Special Monthly Compensation -
Specially Adapted Housing/Special
Home Adaptation Automobile
Allowance/Adaptive Equipment -
Benefits Based on a Veteran's
Seriously Disabled Child
Notice of Disagreement
The first step to appeal
Application for DIC, Death Pension
Speak With A
Veterans Law Attorney
An Expert Physician
or a
Veterans
Clinical Psychologist
TODAY!
Case Evaluations Are
Always Free!
Contact VAWatchdog
<jim912@gmail.com>
Fax us toll free
1-888-658-5058
How To &
Frequently Asked
Questions
How To...
Apply For SSDI
The Schedule For
Rating Disabilities
Apply For TDIU
Disability Benefits
Questionnaires (DBQ's)
How to use DBQs
List By DBQ Form Name
DBQ Provider Instructions
DBQ FAQs
Apply For A Disability Rating
How To Apply For A Disability Rating
Apply For An Increase to
an Existing Rating
Replace Service Records
How to Replace military
service records and awards
FAQs
Frequently Asked
Questions
Voc Rehab
What is Voc Rehab and
how can it help me?
CHAMPVA
What is CHAMPVA?
Home Primary Care
Am I eligible for Home
Based Primary Care?
P & T
Permanent & Total
What exactly is P & T?
Where Do I Submit
ALL Paperwork?
Remember: Use Certified Mail!
Fax Is Preferred!
Click Here
For Addresses and Fax
Numbers Where to
Deliver Forms
& Documents
Custom carvings by a veteran.
I do military themes, sports logos,
business logos, Bible boxes,
occasional canes and much more.
These make great gifts!
(I ordered the Big Red One you see above
as a gift. First class work and service!)
/s/ Jim Strickland
VAWatchdog
America's Leading Resource For
Military Veterans News & Benefits Information
Over Ten Years of Service to America's Military Veterans
Since 2005 This Is The Site VA Reads When They
Want To Learn What They've Been Doing
Welcome Aboard!
Your VA Claim
If you haven't figured it out by now,
it's time to realize you're involved in a giant paper shuffle
and this IS NOT a spectator sport.
Put down your gun
and pick up your keyboard.
The battlefield has changed.